Methods and computer program products for reporting internet protocol television related data collected from application and device data

ABSTRACT

Methods and computer program products for reporting application and device data retrieved from within an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) network environment are provided. IPTV system usage data is retrieved from at least one IPTV device and normalized into a predetermined data format. The IPTV system usage data is parsed according to predetermined criteria. The parsed IPTV system usage data is delivered to a dedicated data mart for storage, the IPTV system usage data that is stored within at least one dedicated data mart is accessed, and the IPTV system usage data that is stored at the at least one dedicated data mart is used to generate a report.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation of U.S. Non-provisional application Ser. No.13/572,292 filed Aug. 10, 2012, which is a continuation application ofU.S. Non-provisional application Ser. No. 12/125,419 filed May 22, 2008,the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

Exemplary embodiments relate generally to Internet Protocol Televisionenvironments, and more particularly, to collecting Internet ProtocolTelevision environment device usage information within an InternetProtocol Television environment.

Internet protocol television (IPTV) is a digital television deliveryservice wherein the digital television signal is delivered toresidential users via a computer network infrastructure using theInternet Protocol. Typically, IPTV services are bundled with additionalInternet services such as Internet web access and voice over Internetprotocol (VOIP). A requirement for a user to play back IPTV operationsis that a user has a computing device, such as a set top box, connectedto their television for the reception of a digital signal. Used inconjunction with an IP-based platform, a set top box allows for a userto access an IPTV service and any additional services that areintegrated within the IPTV service. IPTV service platforms allow for anincrease in the interactive services that can be provided to aresidential user. As such, a user can have access to a wide variety ofcontent that is available via the IPTV service or the Internet.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Exemplary embodiments include a method for reporting application anddevice data retrieved from within an IPTV network environment. Themethod includes retrieving IPTV system usage data from at least one IPTVnetworked device, normalizing the retrieved IPTV system usage data intoa predetermined data format, and parsing the IPTV system usage dataaccording to predetermined criteria. The method further includesdelivering the parsed IPTV system usage data to a dedicated data martfor storage, accessing the IPTV system usage data that is stored withinat least one dedicated data mart, and utilizing the IPTV system usagedata that is stored at the at least one dedicated data mart to generatea report.

Further exemplary embodiments include a method for retrievingapplication and device error data from an IPTV network environment. Themethod includes retrieving IPTV system usage data from at least one IPTVnetworked device, normalizing the retrieved IPTV system usage data intoa predetermined data format, determining if the retrieved IPTV systemusage data comprises at least one error occurrence, and analyzing anydetermined IPTV system usage error data. The method further includesparsing the IPTV system usage error data according to predeterminedcriteria, creating an error log notating the occurrences of determinedIPTV system usage error, and determining if the occurrences ofaccumulated IPTV system usage error data are greater than apredetermined threshold.

Yet further exemplary embodiments include a method for deliveringtargeted content based upon IPTV system user data. The method includesretrieving IPTV system usage data from at least one IPTV networkeddevice that is associated with an IPTV account, parsing the IPTV systemusage data according to predetermined criteria, matching target usercontent to the predetermined criteria, associating the parsed IPTVsystem usage data with target user content that matches thepredetermined criteria, and delivering the target user content to the atleast one IPTV networked device.

Other systems, methods, and/or computer program products according toembodiments will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art uponreview of the following drawings and detailed description. It isintended that all such additional systems, methods, and/or computerprogram products be included within this description, be within thescope of the exemplary embodiments, and be protected by the accompanyingclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Referring now to the drawings wherein like elements are numbered alikein the several FIGURES:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a IPTV environment wherein media content ismanaged and delivered to a plurality of network devices in accordancewith exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram detailing the retrieval and storage of deviceuser usage information in accordance with exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram detailing a method for the retrieval ofinformation from an IPTV networked device in accordance with exemplaryembodiments;

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram detailing the detection of generated errorevent device user usage information in accordance with exemplaryembodiments;

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a IPTV environment wherein media content ismanaged and targeted content is delivered to a plurality of networkdevices in accordance with exemplary embodiments; and

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram detailing the retrieval and storage of deviceuser usage information and delivery of targeted content to a device inaccordance with exemplary embodiments.

The detailed description explains the exemplary embodiments, togetherwith advantages and features, by way of example with reference to thedrawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

One or more exemplary embodiments are described below in detail. Thedisclosed embodiments are intended to be illustrative only sincenumerous modifications and variations therein will be apparent to thoseof ordinary skill in the art.

Within exemplary embodiments, user interface (UI) broadband enableddevices (e.g., UI enabled home telephones, cell phones, IPTV enabledtelevisions, etc.) are provided access to, and manipulate applicationsvia, an IPTV operating environment. Devices are configured to execute anIPTV software platform (a core application) for accessing content over atwo-way IP network. As such, a device can access any applicationsoftware (secondary application) that has been created for a platformwithin the IPTV environment. Additionally, the application softwareimplemented within an IPTV environment can be accessed and utilized by auser over multiple device types—as long as the devices are UIenabled—and thus provide a display interface to a device user. Networkeddevices are periodically polled by an IPTV infrastructure in order tocollect information in regard to the activity usage of any networkeddevice. The collected device usage information is aggregated and storedwithin the IPTV environment, wherein the collected device usageinformation can be accessed by further processing components that arecomprised within the IPTV environment.

FIG. 1 shows an IPTV environment wherein media content is managed anddelivered to a plurality of network devices in accordance with exemplaryembodiments. As shown, the IPTV environment comprises an IPTV gateway105, wherein the IPTV gateway serves as the conduit for data 160 that isreceived and transmitted to networks, such as the Internet, outside ofthe IPTV environment. The IPTV gateway 105 comprises a user and devicedata collection component 107. The IPTV environment also comprises anIPTV infrastructure 110. According to exemplary embodiments, the IPTVinfrastructure 110 has a user IPTV account management component 111 anda user and device activity tracking component 112. A plurality of UIbroadband enabled devices 155 in addition to a computing device 140,such as an IPTV set top box (STB), that is in communication with adisplay device 145 are in network communication with the IPTVinfrastructure 110. Each networked device 155, 140 can be polled toretrieve its respective identification information, identificationinformation that is associated with the IPTV account holder or user thatis currently operating the device (155, 140), and the activity historyof the device user within the IPTV environment. The UI broadband enableddevices 155 comprise an input means (e.g., keyboard, keypad or otherdata entry mechanism) and an output means (e.g., display screen, outputspeaker and sound card, etc.).

User and device activity information that is generated within the IPTVenvironment is stored at a data warehouse 125. According to exemplaryembodiments, the stored data is parsed according to categorydeterminations and thereafter the parsed information is stored atrespective data marts 126, 127, and 128 that are dedicated to thestorage of specific categories of information. The parsed user/deviceactivity information that is stored at the respective data marts 126,127, 128 can be accessed via a report generating application 130 inorder to create custom IPTV user/device usage reports.

Within the exemplary embodiments, various communication and transmissionprotocols can be implemented to accomplish wired (e.g., telephoniccommunication, cable communication, power line communication, etc.) andwireless (e.g., Bluetooth, WiFi, Ultra-wideband, satellite transmission,etc.) communication and data transmission between the remote devices155, the STB 140, and the IPTV infrastructure 110.

In order to access the IPTV environment, a device user may log in to theIPTV infrastructure 110 via a UI that is displayed at the remote device155 or the display device 145. The account management component 111handles the login operations for the IPTV environment in addition tomanaging the account operations for IPTV user accounts. As such, theaccount management component 111 may be tasked with provisioning a useraccount, an alias to the user account or a group of users or sub-accountusers (e.g., a family account or user authorized account co-users) withthe respective services that are available to the account. Further, theaccount management component 111 may be tasked with managing the accountrecords that are associated with each IPTV user account. The remotedevices 155 are registered by an account user with the accountmanagement component 111, wherein the make and model of the remotedevice 155 is also annotated to the IPTV account user's IPTV account.The IPTV account, alias, and sub-account login information canconsistently be instituted across varying platforms (core applications)and the devices 155. Further, exemplary aspects support theimplementation of a single sign-on operation for the authorization andvalidation of a user's login within the IPTV environment.

IPTV system preference information (i.e., system configuration, displaypreference, etc.) may be acquired from an account user, wherein thepreference information is associated with the user's IPTV account at theaccount management component 111 and delivered to a preference server120 for storage. Further, user preferences that are set within the IPTVenvironment for respective applications may also be stored at thepreference server 120. In further exemplary embodiments, user preferenceinformation can be derived from the monitored activities of a userwithin the IPTV environment and stored at the preference server 120.

Within further exemplary embodiments, the activity usage at the device155, 140 or an application is monitored and captured. The user device155, 140 and application usage data is monitored and collected by theuser/device tracking component 112. Activity usage data can be collectedbased upon: a type of account that a user has; a preference profile thatis associated with the user; the device 155, 140 with which the useraccesses the IPTV environment; and the type of event/activity that theuser has initiated within the IPTV environment. Further, capturedevent/activity data is annotated with information that indicates whethera data event or activity originated at a platform (core) or applicationsoftware (secondary) operation.

For example, a user may log in to the IPTV environment via the remotedevice 155. Once logged-in, the user is presented with a series ofgraphical icons that represent applications at a GUI that is displayedat the remote device 155. Assume that the user is presented withgraphical icons that represent a weather forecasting application and ayellow pages searching application. The user activates the weatherforecasting application in order to see what the weather conditions arein a neighboring city. As a result of this activity, event informationspecifying the application that was accessed, the time of the event, andthe length of time that the event lasted can be monitored and capturedby the user/device tracking component 112. Further, the device 155information in regard to the device 155 that the user used to access theIPTV account is noted in addition to any functional feature within theapplication that was accessed. Additionally, an object event ID isgenerated and associated with the captured activity usage information atthe user/device activity tracking component 112.

In a further example, assume that the device 155 user executes theyellow page searching application in order to find the address andtelephone number of a local restaurant. In the event that the device 155is a home telephone or mobile telephone the application may comprise a“click-to-call” feature wherein the device user can select a displayedreturned telephone number and initiate a telephone call by selecting thedisplayed telephone number with an input device at the remote device155. In this instance, information in regard to the user, the device,the application that was accessed, and the features that were utilizedwithin the application, the time the session was initiated, the lengthof the session, and the restaurant for which the search was originatedcan be logged at the user/device activity tracking component 112.

The raw data that is captured by the user/device activity trackingcomponent 112 can be collected from a plurality of the potentiallynetworked devices 155, 140. Further, the user/device activity trackingcomponent 112 periodically polls all active network devices 155, 140 inorder to determine if new activity or event data has been generated atthe device 155, 140. Any captured raw data may be delivered to theuser/device data collection component 107. According to exemplaryembodiments, a dedicated function of the user/device data collectioncomponent 107 is to collect all of the user/device activity data withinthe IPTV environment and normalize the captured raw data into apredetermined format (e.g., XML, etc.). Thereafter, the user/devicecollection component 107 parses the normalized data according topredetermined categories (e.g., user preference information, device typeinformation, activity information, etc.). The normalized parsed data isthereafter delivered to the data warehouse 125 for storage, wherein thedata warehouse 125 is configured to facilitate the querying and analysisof the stored data. At the data warehouse 125, the parsed data is pushedto the data marts 126, 127, and 128. According to exemplary embodiments,the data marts 126, 127, 128, are created and configured based uponpredetermined criteria—for example, the current and project operationaland business needs of a company which may require that a data mart becreated to store user device information or user event activity thatoccurred within a specific application.

Data that is stored within a respective data mart (126, 127, and 128) ismade available to a report generating application 130. The reportgenerating application 130 can be accessed from an IPTV environmentnetworked computer workstation 150. As such, the report generatingapplication 130 is configured to provide the workstation 150 operatorwith the capability to build a custom report that is based upon theuser/device data that is stored at the data marts 126, 127, and 128 viaa GUI that is displayed at the workstation 150. For example, acustomized report could be generated based upon the number of IPTVcustomers that utilized the yellow pages application or that searchedfor a weather forecast for a particular city within a particular timeperiod. These findings can be crossed-referenced with the type of device155, 140 that was used to initiate the activity events and the resultoutput at the workstation 150 or saved for further processing.

FIG. 2 shows a flow diagram detailing a method for the reporting ofapplication and device data retrieved from within an IPTV networkenvironment, according to exemplary embodiments. As shown in FIG. 2, theusage data of an IPTV system user is retrieved by, e.g., the user/devicecollection component 107 from at least one IPTV networked device 155 andthe STB 140 at step 205. At step 210 the retrieved usage data isnormalized by the user/device collection component 107 into apredetermined format. At step 215 the normalized usage data is parseduser/device collection component 107 according to predeterminedcriteria, and thereafter at step 220, the IPTV system usage data isdelivered to database warehouse 125 for storage. Lastly, at step 225 therespectively parsed IPTV system usage data is pushed to a dedicated datamart, such as the data mart 126, 127, 128, for storage. Once the datahas been pushed to the data marts 126, 127, and 128, the data may beaccessed by the report generating application 130 for the creation forcustomized data reports.

FIG. 3 shows a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary user/device dataretrieval operation of step 205 of FIG. 2 in accordance with exemplaryembodiments. At step 305, the account information that is associatedwith an IPTV account login operation at the device 155 or STB 140 isretrieved by, e.g., the account management component 111. At step 310,the account user that is associated with the login session is determinedby the account management component 111. At step 315, the accountpreferences that are associated with the account user are retrieved by,e.g., the account management component 111. Next, at step 320, thedevice type of the device 155 and the identification information that isassociated with the device used to access the IPTV infrastructure 110are retrieved by, e.g., the user/device activity tracking component 112.

Information is generated in regard to the activity/event that has beeninitiated at the device 155 or STB 140. At step 325 the information thathas been generated in regard to the activity/event type is retrieved bythe user/device activity tracking component 112. At step 330, adetermination is made at the user/device activity tracking component 112as to if the current activity or event was initiated within the coreapplication or via secondary application software. In the event that itis determined that the activity event has been initiated within asecondary application, then at step 335, the user preferences for thesecondary application are retrieved. Lastly, at step 340 allpredetermined criteria of activity and event data that is generated atthe device 155, 140 user's login session is retrieved by the user/deviceactivity tracking component 112. If it is determined that the activityevent has been initiated within the core application, then the methodproceeds directly to step 340.

Within further exemplary embodiments, the user/device data collectioncomponent 107 analyzes the normalized data in order to determine if anyerror data is present within the collected usage information. Error datais generated in the instance that performance levels of activitysessions that are initiated via the core application and any applicationsoftware are determined not to meet predetermined performance metrics orIPTV system implemented performance requirements. The error data isparsed in accordance with the other usage data, but in the instance thatit is determined that the occurrences of errors has reached apredetermined threshold, an error report detailing the type of erroroccurrences is automatically generated and forwarded to a systemadministrator.

The normalized parsed data is thereafter delivered to the data warehouse125 for storage, wherein the data warehouse 125 is configured tofacilitate the querying and analysis of the stored data. At the datawarehouse 125, the parsed data is pushed to the data marts 126, 127, and128. According to exemplary embodiments, the data marts 126, 127, 128,are created and configured based upon predetermined criteria—forexample, the current and project operational and business needs of acompany which may require that a data mart be created to store userdevice information or user event activity that occurred within aspecific application in addition to error data.

FIG. 4 shows a flow diagram detailing a method for the reporting ofapplication and device error data retrieved from within an IPTV networkenvironment, according to exemplary embodiments. As shown in FIG. 4 theusage data of an IPTV system user is retrieved by the user/device datacollection component 107 from at least one IPTV networked device 155 andthe STB 140 at step 405. At step 410, the retrieved usage data isnormalized by the user/device data collection component 107 into apredetermined format. At step 415, the normalized data is analyzed atthe user/device data collection component 107 to determine if an errordata is present. In the instance where error data is detected, then atstep 420, the error data is parsed at the user/device data collectioncomponent 107 according to predetermined categorization criteria.Thereafter, at step 425 an error log data is created detailing theoccurrence and type of detected error. The error log data may be createdby an error logging/reporting component that may be included in one ofthe data marts 126, 127, 128. At step 430, a determination is made,e.g., at the user/device data collection component 107 to ascertain ifthe detected errors have exceeded a predetermined threshold range. Inthe instance that the number of errors has exceeded the threshold, anerror report is generated (step 435), e.g., by the errorlogging/reporting component included in one of the data marts 126, 127,128 and forwarded to a system administrator detailing the occurrencesand types of errors (step 440).

From step 440, a determination at step 430 that the number of detectederrors has not exceeded the threshold, or a determination at step 415that an error is not detected, the collected usage data is parsed by theuser/device data collection component according 107 to predeterminedcriteria at step 445. Thereafter at step 450, the IPTV system usage datais delivered to a database warehouse 125 for storage. Lastly, at step455 the respectively parsed system usage data is pushed to a dedicateddata mart 126, 127 or 128 for storage. Once the data has been pushed tothe data marts 126, 127, and 128 the data may be accessed by the reportgenerating application 130 for the creation for customized data reports.

As shown in FIG. 5, within additional exemplary embodiments the userspecific raw data that is delivered to the user/device data collectioncomponent 107 is also delivered to a content matching component 106. Thepurpose of this operation is to make a determination to if there iscontent that is stored locally 130 or remotely 135 that may be ofpotential interest to a device (155, 140) user based upon the user'sIPTV account usage activities. Content stored remotely 135 may bedelivered to the IPTV Gateway 105 via a network 136, such as theInternet. For example, if the device (155, 140) user initiates a seriesof yellow page searches for restaurants that serve particular types offood, then a determination may be made that the device (155, 140) usermay want to receive advertisements from restaurants that serve theparticular type of food that the device (155, 140) user frequentlysearches. A further example would be if the device (155, 140) userfrequently performs searches within a reference application program forparticular types of animals, then in this instance it may be determinedthat the device (155, 140) user may want to receive additional contentrelating to the particular types of animals that the device (155, 140)user has performed search operations upon.

FIG. 6 shows a flow diagram detailing a method for the delivery oftargeted content based upon IPTV system user, according to exemplaryembodiments. As shown in FIG. 6, the usage data of an IPTV system useris retrieved by the user/device data collection component 107 from atleast one of the IPTV networked device 155 or STB 140 at step 605. Theretrieved usage data is normalized into a predetermined format, and atstep 610, the normalized usage data is parsed according to predeterminedcriteria by the user/device data collection component. Thereafter atstep 615, the IPTV system usage data is delivered to the databasewarehouse 125 for storage. At step 620, the parsed data is alsodelivered to the content matching component 106, wherein the parsed datais analyzed according to predetermined matching criteria to determine ifthe parsed data can be associated with any category of target content.At step 625, the target content that has been identified is associatedwith the IPTV account user's account by, e.g., the content matchingcomponent 106, and also a reference to the target content is saved atthe data warehouse 125. At step 630, the target content is retrievedfrom either the local storage area 130 or the remote storage 135, anddelivered to the IPTV account user via a networked device 155 or STB140.

As described above, the exemplary embodiments can be in the form ofcomputer-implemented processes and apparatuses for practicing thoseprocesses. The exemplary embodiments can also be in the form of computerprogram code containing instructions embodied in tangible media, such asfloppy diskettes, CD ROMs, hard drives, or any other computer-readablestorage medium, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded intoand executed by a computer, the computer becomes an apparatus forpracticing the exemplary embodiments. The exemplary embodiments can alsobe in the form of computer program code, for example, whether stored ina storage medium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer, ortransmitted over some transmission medium, loaded into and/or executedby a computer, or transmitted over some transmission medium, such asover electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or viaelectromagnetic radiation, wherein, when the computer program code isloaded into an executed by a computer, the computer becomes an apparatusfor practicing the exemplary embodiments. When implemented on ageneral-purpose microprocessor, the computer program code segmentsconfigure the microprocessor to create specific logic circuits.

While the invention has been described with reference to exemplaryembodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted forelements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. Inaddition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situationor material to the teachings of the invention without departing from theessential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the inventionnot be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed for carrying outthis invention, but that the invention will include all embodimentsfalling within the scope of the claims. Moreover, the use of the termsfirst, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but ratherthe terms first, second, etc., are used to distinguish one element fromanother. Furthermore, the use of the terms a, an, etc., do not denote alimitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least oneof the referenced item.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for reporting application and devicedata retrieved from within an internet protocol television networkenvironment, the method comprising: retrieving, by a device activitytracking component stored on an internet protocol televisioninfrastructure, internet protocol television system usage data from auser device; wherein the device activity tracking component stored onthe internet protocol television infrastructure is separate from theuser device; normalizing, by a data collection component stored on aninternet protocol television gateway, the internet protocol televisionsystem usage data that has been retrieved into a predetermined dataformat; wherein the data collection component stored on the internetprotocol television gateway is connected to a preference sever and tothe internet protocol television infrastructure; parsing, by the datacollection component, the internet protocol television system usage dataaccording to predetermined criteria; delivering, by the data collectioncomponent stored on the internet protocol television gateway, theinternet protocol television system usage data that has been parsed todedicated data marts comprising a first dedicated data mart, a seconddedicated data mart, and a third dedicated data mart for storage;wherein the device activity tracking component stored on the internetprotocol television infrastructure determines when a current activity isinitiated by a core application and a secondary application, in whichthe core application is an internet protocol television softwareplatform on the user device and the secondary application is softwarecreated for the core application; wherein based on the device activitytracking component determining that the current activity is initiatedwithin the secondary application, the device activity tracking componentretrieves user preferences for the secondary application in which theuser preferences are stored on the preferences server; and wherein thedevice activity tracking component annotates current activity data withinformation that distinguishes whether the current activity originatedat the core application or the secondary application.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising accessing the internet protocol televisionsystem usage data that is stored within the dedicated data marts;utilizing the internet protocol television system usage data that isstored at the dedicated data marts to generate reports, the reportscomprising a first report for a number of customers that utilized asearch directory application and a second report for a number ofcustomers that searched with a weather application to search a weatherforecast for a particular city within a particular time period; andresponsive to an event corresponding to utilizing the weatherapplication, capturing event information specifying that the weatherapplication was accessed, a time of the event, a length of time that theevent lasted, and functional features that were accessed within theweather application; wherein retrieving the internet protocol televisionsystem usage data further comprises retrieving an identity of the userdevice that is accessing an internet protocol television system.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, wherein retrieving the internet protocol televisionsystem usage data further comprises retrieval of internet protocoltelevision account sign-on information that is associated with aninternet protocol television account.
 4. The method of claim 3, furthercomprising retrieving preference information that has been associatedwith the internet protocol television account.
 5. The method of claim 1,further comprising identifying an account user that is associated withan internet protocol television account.
 6. The method of claim 1,wherein retrieving the internet protocol television system usage datafurther comprises retrieving information in regard to an activity eventtype that is initiated at the user device.
 7. The method of claim 1,wherein the internet protocol television infrastructure comprises a userinternet protocol television account management component.
 8. The methodof claim 1, wherein the internet protocol television infrastructurecomprises an account management component.
 9. The method of claim 1,further comprising retrieving information that is generated by thecurrent activity.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the user device isperiodically polled for the internet protocol television system usagedata generated by an internet protocol television system user.
 11. Asystem for reporting application and device data retrieved from aninternet protocol television network environment, the system comprising:an internet protocol television hardware infrastructure; a deviceactivity tracking component stored on the internet protocol televisionhardware infrastructure; wherein the device activity tracking componentstored on the internet protocol television hardware infrastructure isdistinct and separate from a user device; and a data collectioncomponent stored on an internet protocol television gateway; wherein thedata collection component stored on the internet protocol televisiongateway is connected to a preference sever and to the internet protocoltelevision hardware infrastructure; wherein the device activity trackingcomponent retrieves internet protocol television system usage data fromthe user device; wherein the device activity tracking componentnormalizes the internet protocol television system usage data retrievedinto a predetermined data format; wherein the device activity trackingcomponent stored on the internet protocol television hardwareinfrastructure determines when a current activity is initiated by a coreapplication and a secondary application, in which the core applicationis an internet protocol television software platform on the user deviceand the secondary application is software created for the coreapplication; wherein based on the device activity tracking componentdetermining that the current activity is initiated within the secondaryapplication, the device activity tracking component retrieves userpreferences for the secondary application in which the user preferencesare stored on the preferences server; and wherein the device activitytracking component is configured to annotate current activity data withinformation that distinguishes whether the current activity originatedat the core application or the secondary application.
 12. The system ofclaim 11, wherein the device activity tracking component determines ifthe internet protocol television system usage data is internet protocoltelevision system usage error data that comprises error occurrences. 13.The system of claim 12, wherein the device activity tracking componentanalyzes the internet protocol television system usage error data. 14.The system of claim 13, wherein the device activity tracking componentparses the internet protocol television system usage error dataaccording to predetermined criteria.
 15. The system of claim 14, whereinthe device activity tracking component creates an error log notating theerror occurrences in the internet protocol television system usage errordata; and wherein the device activity tracking component determines ifthe error occurrences of accumulated internet protocol television systemusage error data are greater than a predetermined threshold; and whereinthe internet protocol television system usage error data is analyzed toidentify a type and frequency of respective ones of the erroroccurrences.
 16. The system of claim 15, wherein retrieving the internetprotocol television system usage data further comprises retrieving anidentity of the user device that is accessing the internet protocoltelevision network environment.
 17. The system of claim 16, whereinretrieving the internet protocol television system usage data furthercomprises retrieval of internet protocol television account sign-oninformation that is associated with an internet protocol televisionaccount.
 18. The system of claim 17, wherein in an event that the erroroccurrences in the internet protocol television system usage error datais greater than a predetermined threshold, an error report is generatedand delivered to a system administrator.
 19. The system of claim 18,wherein retrieving the internet protocol television system usage datafurther comprises identifying an account user that is signed-on to theinternet protocol television account.
 20. A computer program product,tangibly embodied on a computer readable medium, for reportingapplication and device data retrieved from within an internet protocoltelevision network environment, the computer program product includinginstructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer toperform operations comprising: retrieving, by a device activity trackingcomponent stored on an internet protocol television infrastructure,internet protocol television system usage data from a user device;wherein the device activity tracking component stored on the internetprotocol television infrastructure is separate from the user device;normalizing, by a data collection component stored on an internetprotocol television gateway, the internet protocol television systemusage data that has been retrieved into a predetermined data format;wherein the data collection component stored on the internet protocoltelevision gateway is connected to a preference sever and to theinternet protocol television infrastructure; parsing, by the datacollection component, the internet protocol television system usage dataaccording to predetermined criteria; delivering, by the data collectioncomponent stored on the internet protocol television gateway, theinternet protocol television system usage data that has been parsed todedicated data marts comprising a first dedicated data mart, a seconddedicated data mart, and a third dedicated data mart for storage;wherein the device activity tracking component stored on the internetprotocol television infrastructure determines when a current activity isinitiated by a core application and a secondary application, in whichthe core application is an internet protocol television softwareplatform on the user device and the secondary application is softwarecreated for the core application; wherein based on the device activitytracking component determining that the current activity is initiatedwithin the secondary application, the device activity tracking componentretrieves user preferences for the secondary application in which theuser preferences are stored on the preferences server; and wherein thedevice activity tracking component annotates current activity data withinformation that distinguishes whether the current activity originatedat the core application or the secondary application.